Child support is generally intended to help with the costs of raising the child—including food, clothing, shelter, and education—but laws vary from state to state and are often unclear on the extent to which child support payments are intended to help the custodial parent pay for half of school supplies, health care, braces, glasses, dental care, uninsured medical care, transportation (car), daycare, sports camps, cheerleading camps, school trips, social activities, and extracurricular activities.

Most state laws (statutes) don’t identify the specific child-rearing costs to which the custodial parent is required to contribute payment from child support and other resources—and because these issues are frequently the source of parental conflict, parents should identify all expected future costs and agree to the process for sharing them.

Childcare expenses incurred by the custodial parent are generally not required to be paid by the noncustodial parent in addition to child support—unless the childcare is required for the custodial parent’s work, training, or school—in which case the noncustodial parent may be required to pay for 50% of the childcare, for example.

In Missouri, child support is designed to cover the basic needs of the child, which includes food, clothing, housing, and educational expenses. The state uses a Child Support Schedule to determine the amount of support, which considers the income of both parents and the number of children. Missouri law does not provide an exhaustive list of specific child-rearing expenses that must be covered by child support payments. However, extraordinary expenses such as health care costs (including braces, glasses, and dental care), uninsured medical expenses, and childcare costs necessary for the custodial parent's employment or education may be factored into the child support calculation. The noncustodial parent may be required to pay for half of reasonable childcare costs if it enables the custodial parent to work, train, or attend school. Costs for extracurricular activities, school trips, and social activities are not explicitly covered by child support and typically require agreement between the parents. Parents are encouraged to discuss and agree upon the sharing of these additional expenses to avoid conflicts. It's important to note that the specifics of each case can vary, and an attorney can provide guidance tailored to individual circumstances.